This nurse has also been known to call my school and complain about the students.

Really, there is nothing wrong with her calling the school and complain about the students-- if there is a reason. It's just nasty if there is no reason!

Dec 16, '07

From what my instructor said, she just calls to complain. Myself and my other two classmates made sure we asked her a lot of questions, volunteered to run to the lab, set up rooms, etc. and we did ok with her. At post conference yesterday, our instructor said "X (the nurse's name) is just X. She's been here forever and you can't change her. The hospital can't change her. She will teach you everything you want to know if you ask, but you need to put her rudeness aside." I've seen her be rude to patients. She may be an excellent nurse, but she's the kind of nurse I know I DON'T want to be.

Last edit by Ms Kylee on Dec 31, '07
: Reason: typo

Dec 16, '07

p.s. I'm sorry about offending people with my earlier post about "American poverty, 2007." My point was that many people create their own problems, and this includes modifying their bodies in ways that render them unemployable.

I actually said this to a paraplegic gangbanger that was in for wound care. He was demanding is Demerol IVP an hour ahead of schedule and cursing at me.
"This is my job, I have bills to pay and I'm not going to lose my license because of you". I nearly fell over when he backed off.

I've told pt's this many times when they wanted me to do something I couldn't/wouldn't do.It usually works although I had one LOL tell me "while I'm in here I'm paying your salary and you'll do what I say"I couldn't help laughing as I left her room.

Really, there is nothing wrong with her calling the school and complain about the students-- if there is a reason. It's just nasty if there is no reason!

I disagree. Students (in all disciplines) are supervised by clinical faculty, and it is their responsibility to evaluate those students. If this nurse has issues with a student, she should approach the clinical faculty first, rather than jumping the chain of command to complain directly to the school.

It sounds to me like this person misunderstands their role in the hospital, and maintains an exagerated sense of self-importance.

Dec 16, '07

For the dental side of things:

"It's just saliva. Don't you swallow your own saliva all day at home?" to the patient who requests suction every 5 seconds

"Oh, this hurts so much that you need nitrous oxide and valium to complete your cleaning? Tell me about all those tattoos and piercings? How did you manage to suffer through that?"

to the patient who says they don't understand why they keep getting so many cavities. "Do you floss? No? Oh, that's why."

to the overprotective parent who insists on accompanying their child into the treatment room and then hovers over the child repeating: "Don't worry, it won't hurt" I just want to say: "How do YOU know?" or I want to say: "It probably won't hurt, but you're sure giving little johnny plenty of reason to be freaked out about it"

To the patient who adamantly states they don't want x-rays: "Great. because I don't want to take them. This sounds like a win/win situation."

To the patient that says: "I hate the dentist" as soon as I meet them for the first time: "Well, good thing I'm not the dentist! I hate whiny patients...you're not one of those are you?"

To the patient who doesn't want me to lay them back in the dental chair: "Do you sleep sitting up? No? OK, here we go hold on...."

To the parent who doesn't want their child to have fluoride because insurance doesn't cover it: "Does insurance cover your coach purse and iPhone?"

"He is a DOG! Not a little human in a fur coat with clothes. If you would treat him like a dog than I wouldn't have to muzzle the little spoiled brat to handle him." (Neurotic small dog owner. The dog is small in size but large in teeth and very experienced in their use.)

You must work for my parents' vet!

They have the world's most obnoxious little dog (and I used to like little dogs).

Dec 16, '07

Histrionics do not impress me. Get a grip, grow up, and stop whining!!

(Gastroenteritis. I know vomiting is unpleasant, but I've seen women have babies with less carrying-on.)

and if you were this pt, would you like those hours? or better yet, if you were the family and your family member were in the hospital, would you want to only be able to see them from 2-4 or 7-9, on the days when you work from 3-10? I think it's great, albeit an incovinience, that the family is so supportive.

There is a big difference between supportive and being PITAs.

I don't need to be supervised by aged parents, adult children, etc. Who wants to watch their parentbed bath or dressing change?? The patient is my concern, not the family member who wants to know the sugars, why are the meds at different times, and you have to repeat the conversation three or four times because there is no designated family spokesperson.

I don't go to their jobsite and supervise them at work or tell them how to do their job. The hospital room is MY worksite and as such I deserve a safe place to work. Not one where I trip over assorted children, handbags, and left behind take out containers.

Dec 16, '07

What I have actually said to patients: If you let somebody poke studs and rings through your tongue, face, and more private body parts you are NOT allowed to raise a fuss over one little IV needle!
No, honey, contractions don't show up square on the monitor - that happens only from you pushing on the toco when I'm out of the room.
No, I won't talk to your (in)significant other who is at the bar and tell him you are in terrible shape and he should come to the hospital right now. (You picked him, not me!).
To the s.o. - No I will NOT stop what I am doing, take my hand away and explain everything before touching her. That cord hanging out down there trumps your birth plan any day. If I take my hand out, your baby will probably die. I will try to give you an idea what's going on as we are running down the hall with my hand still up there.
I'm probably one of those L&D nurses who makes students shake their heads, but my patients get the best care possible, I know what to do when it "hits the fan" and will forgo polite to both them and the docs if it means getting a better outcome for them and their baby.

Dec 16, '07

I don't have a problem with supportive family members. What I have a problem with is every relative that congregates and camps in the room, unwilling to leave. I have work to do, and when I come into the room, I can't get through because there's 85 people squashed in the room, not to mention all of their personal stuff all over the floor. Of course, there always has to be one that hovers at the bedside, won't let me get through to get vitals, drop off a water pitcher, check a brief, etc. And there's always at least one that just has to know what the vitals were. They get really snotty when I politely say I can't tell you that when I really want to tell them to MYOB. So yes, I'd love to have the 2 patients per visitor and visiting hours enforced.

I don't mind one person staying over night, but for crying out loud, 2 cots and a recliner in the room for those who won't leave? That's just crazy.. not to mention dangerous if we have to get to a patient in a hurry and we're hindered by stuff and people in our way.

I don't have a problem with supportive family members. What I have a problem with is every relative that congregates and camps in the room, unwilling to leave. I have work to do, and when I come into the room, I can't get through because there's 85 people squashed in the room, not to mention all of their personal stuff all over the floor. Of course, there always has to be one that hovers at the bedside, won't let me get through to get vitals, drop off a water pitcher, check a brief, etc. And there's always at least one that just has to know what the vitals were. They get really snotty when I politely say I can't tell you that when I really want to tell them to MYOB. So yes, I'd love to have the 2 patients per visitor and visiting hours enforced.

I don't mind one person staying over night, but for crying out loud, 2 cots and a recliner in the room for those who won't leave? That's just crazy.. not to mention dangerous if we have to get to a patient in a hurry and we're hindered by stuff and people in our way.

Thank you, Fiona! You truly understand.

I completely understand that one. Had a pt whose wife stayed with him THE WHOLE time. I work on a step down telemetry unit and this lady brought framed pictures, two lap tops with cords,(i tripped over one while trying to do bed side care) a ton of magazines that she laid across the heater, (Jacho loved that one) then she complained when the techs came into the room to do a sugar test. Unbelievable. My recent comment about obese people was not meant to offend anyone, and I never show that attitude towards any patients regardless of how nasty they may be towards me. I just don't understand what happened to old fashion responability? I mean come on, a patient comes in who has awful drug withdrawls and starts screaming and yelling your telling me that doesn't bother you? Better yet he pulls his IV out and pees all over the place. He/she has a serious drug problem and it's put them in the hospital because it's compromised their health. To me, it's the same concept as servere obesity. How is consuming too much food any different than abusing your body with drugs?

and if you were this pt, would you like those hours? or better yet, if you were the family and your family member were in the hospital, would you want to only be able to see them from 2-4 or 7-9, on the days when you work from 3-10? i think it's great, albeit an incovinience, that the family is so supportive.

first, sitting at the bedside 24/7 is not an indication of supportiveness. it is often an indication of guilt based on the poor relationship the family has had with the patient for years. and it usually indicates a family that is a pain in the posterior.

second, this is a vent thread. it is rude to come into a vent thread and admonish folks for venting.